It’s 12:18 am according the computer clock.  Can’t sleep.  So I thought I might tool around cyber’dom for a while.  So I’m just checking in.

All the spiritual insights I get seem to titrate down to BIG GOD: little me.  Or, if you like, He is the vine, I am branches.  That sort of thing.  Never understimate the power of self will to try to control things that are out side of control.

Oh…I’m starting to realize the power of remembering what God has done.  And tonight I’ll tell you all a story of God’s power.  About….ummmmm…8 years ago, Deborah and I were helping to lead our church’s youth group.  And there was a girl who shared that she was just diagnosed with renal failure.  So, we all laid hands on her and prayed for her.  I fasted and prayed for her that following week.  Y’know, let me stop and just say that this was a really great group of kids.  They had such open, honest love of Jesus and serving Him.  It was really precious.  Any how, the next week we got together, the girl shared that the doctors couldn’t find any trace of the renal failure.  So in due diligence they did several more tests.  And they still came up as nothing.  Amazing!  Well…even months later it was still gone.  And that my friends is a bold, mondo-bondo miracle!  Hey, I believe the cardinal that comes and sings in my back yard every morning is a miracle as well.  But this healing stands out.  End stage renal failure doesn’t just go away.  That was God.

Any how, I think it is important to remember and focus upon God’s activity in our lives.  And when I do so, I often discover that He is not at all distant.  I discover I God that is constantly intertwined in my life…..weaving through it like a golden thread.

Peace to you today fellow traveler…

Btw, last weekend when I went to the Roman Catholic Church service I discovered that they have a REALLY nice labyrinth. It is a replica of the one that is in Chartres (?), France. And it is open to the public from 7 am to 10 pm, 7 days a week! And the church is only like a 1/2 hour from my house! Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet! You can bet I’m going back there some time in the near future!

I saw Wall-E last night with the kids.  And I knew it would be good.  But…WOW…was it ever good!  Yes, the animation was good.  Yes the cute robots were endearing.  Yes the story was clever, and funny in parts.  But what surprised me was it actually carried a really profound message.  I won’t ruin the movie for you, but suffice it to say that it is a powerful confirmation to take care of the planet, take care of each other, and take care of ourselves.  And for me, it means going one further in that there is a Creator who intends all the above and for us to be responsible in these things to ourselves, our Earth, and in all things unto Him.

I’ll probably comment more on this brilliant movie as soon as there is enough time out for people to see it (so as not to ruin it).

But while we wait, would you mind picking up some trash that isn’t yours, loving some one who didn’t love you first, or just turn off your tv/computer/texting device/computer and going for a walk?  You will?  Brilliant!
Peace to you today fellow traveler!

I was listening to some scripture on CD this weekend.  And I happened to catch the end of a famous scripture that struck me.  It was the popular “throne of grace” passage from Hebrews 4 (NLT) that says:

14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

It’s that very last sentence that really transfixed my attention.  We will receive both mercy and grace when we need it most.   And I got this image of grace as a force or a living entity that breaks in and protects us.  Heals us.  Enfolds us…right when we need it.  And man, don’t you need that kind of grace?  I know I do.  I’m breathing a big sigh of relief from that realization today.

I never get tired of talking about God’s great mercy and grace.  They are endlessly astounding and beyond full comprehension.

Grace and Mercy of the Messiah to you fellow sojourner! 

Did anyone catch N.T. Wright on the Colbert Report???  It was fantastic.  Steven was actually very respectful and Bishop Wright was actually pretty funny!  In the interview Wright discusses his new book about heaven, the resurrection and more.  If you didn’t catch it go here as soon as possible, scroll down and catch this excellent interview!

My train ride was strange this morning.  First, a young woman fainted several seats away from me.  I didn’t see it as I usually have my nose in a book.  Her sister started screaming which unsettled the whole car.  It’s interesting how people responded.  Most folk generally didn’t want to get involved.  However a few people did step up to help.  One lady used her cell phone to call 911.   At first I was shocked as everyone else was.  I wasn’t even sure what happened.  I finally thought I had better get up to help.  But as I did, she got up herself and seemed to be ok.  Her sister hit the alert button (which is essentially an intercom to the driver) and told him what had happened.  They exited at the first stop and a DART attendent met them there.  I was impressed with the responsiveness of the DART people.  I just prayed for her the whole time.

A short time later, an elderly African American fellow began singing a hymn in a worn but beautiful voice.  I was/am unfamiliar with the hymn, but it went something like this:

Walk with me, LORD. Won’t you walk with me? 

I need Jesus to walk with me.

And on it went.  He didn’t seem to care that his voice was carrying pretty loud in the car.   

Many people were annoyed by the singing.  I found it somehow haunting and beautiful in the darkness of the morning.  Who knows what went on in the spirit on that train this morning.  But something was happening.  I felt the Kingdom break in….a kind of impromptu thin place.  It’s like the train ran through part of the Tir Na Nog.  I’m still hearing that song of praise in my head right now…and I don’t mind.  I’m turning it into a prayer.  Blessed be the Creator forever!

Addendum:  The above song, I just discovered is blues song, written and recorded by Mississippi Fred McDowell back in 1959.  

Here’s the actual lyrics:

 Well, I want Jesus
Whilst walk with me
Yes, I want Jesus
Walk with me
Whilst I’m on this tedious journey
Yes, I want Jesus
Just to walk with me

Walk with my mother
Lord, walk with me
Walk with my mother
Lord, walk with me
Whilst I’m on this tedious journey
Yes, I want Jesus
Just to walk with me

Won’t you be my doctor?
Come and walk with me
Just be my doctor
Come and walk with me
Well, whilst I’m on this tedious journey
Yes, I want Jesus
Just to walk with me

(guitar)

Don’t you leave me ‘lone, no
Don’t leave me ‘lone
Don’t you leave me ‘lone, Lord
Don’t leave me ‘lone
Well, whilst I’m on this tedious journey
Yes, I want Jesus
Just to walk with me

Um-hm, um-hm, hmm
Um-hm, um-hm
Um-hm, um-hm-hm
Um-hm, hm-mm
Um-hm, hm-hm
Umm-hm-hm-hm

Yes, I want Jesus
Come and walk with me-he-eee.

Interestingly, years later, Kanye West would recall much this same theme in his hip hop flavored “Jesus Walks” for a more modern day.  I like them both.

Peace to you fellow traveler!

If you haven’t seen any of the road trip sequences with Tony Jones and Trucker Frank…I highly recommend it.  Here’s a really good one.  There’s a fantastic conversation that goes on about how people who are astranged from God still need him…and how they long to be engaged and listened to in dialogue.  One self described agnostic girl says that she has wanted to raise her hand during a sermon in church before to make a comment or ask a question…but that most churches don’t have that ability.  Tony and Frank point out that there is too much fear that some heresy will be brought forth.  But that very fear is what often keeps people from the church, keeps them from growing and using their giftings.  And they make the great point the majority input from community often has a “bumper” effect to keep things on the Theological straight and narrow.  Quite the opposite from what is feared by many traditional churches.
I really like the rapport that Tony and Frank have.  Actually I really dig Trucker Frank.  I think he needs to write a book.

Did I tell Y’all that I saw Indy 4?  I really enjoyed it.  My general rule of thumb is take the conclusions of critics with a grain of salt.  Several of the reviews that I read concluded that it was very ho-hum and going through the expected motions.  But I didn’t feel that it was that way much at all.  It was like revisiting a beloved friend.  It was great to see him back in action.  And it was great to see that Spielberg et.al. have allowed Indy to age.  Maybe it’s b/c I’m finding some gray hairs on my head, but it was nice to see an older Indy that, though maybe is not as nimble as before, can still duke it out with the baddies!  Old guys rule!

Well, now I’m waiting for Wall-E to come out!  And of course, there is the new Dark Knight movie coming out soon which I’ll bet is gonna’ rock.  I’m also hearing really good things about Kung-Fu Panda.  I may have to scrape some nickels together to see if it’s possible to see that as well.  Or more appropriately, I may just wait till KFP  comes out in the discount theatre.  Man, I’ve seen more movies in the last couple months than I usually do in a whole year.  Ha!!

Coming back from Montana gave me an overall message. A reminder if you will. A reminder that the deep mountains of Montana are somewhat like pressing into God. Again, I had the to desire to drive deep into those mountains and explore. Not to forsake all that I am called to out in the broken world. But as a counter balance…to “find my heart” as John Eldridge says in his book Wild At Heart.
In C.S. Lewis’s much overlooked book, the Great Divorce, in “heaven” there are majestic mountains that the redeemed venture up and up and up into. One such fellow had a nasty lizard that was controlling him turned into a great white steed by the power of God. The fellow then freed, climbed aboard the destrier and rode deep into the mountains of God. I think there is a similar image in the classic Christian tome Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard. Though it’s been many, many years, I still identify with the main character from that book “Much Afraid”. But my Shepherd is making my feet like deer feet.
So, as I reflect upon the literal beauty of the mountains of Montana…I will also think about the mountains of God. And though I am in very, very flat North Texas…I can still ride into those mountains…my Shepherd Friend and I!

I am really needing to do some yard work this weekend.  But I don’t want to.  We’ll see.